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How to Avoid Getting Lost in the BIM Revolution

For many building industry professionals in the UK, building
information modeling (BIM) will soon become a necessity. The
UK Government is making Level
2 BIM mandatory by 2016 for all public
sector building commissions. Level 2 BIM requires all design and building work
to use software tools and common data formats. Each party can work using
proprietary software tools but must share design electronically via a common
file format – COBie. Failure to meet Level 2 BIM could effectively exclude a firm
from future public sector work in the UK, including work in National
Health Service, local government, schools and further
education buildings.

Even for firms focused on private sector clients, there are
increasing pressures to adopt BIM due to the competitive advantages it
provides. Besides government mandates, the compelling commercial case for BIM includes:

Potential to reduce waste and cost overruns by up to one third

Slash time-to-market and potential errors in construction

Enhanced capabilities to facilities management and building
operations

Implementing BIM is a big step. It requires a conceptual
overhaul of how firms work both internally and with partners across their value
chains. So how do construction industry firms implement Level 2 BIM
successfully and avoid getting lost in the details? It is about fundamentally
altering work processes and the ways that teams work together across different
functions. Here are a few considerations for implementing BIM:

Identify the benefits of adopting BIM for the organization. These identified benefits can be not only the ones that apply to
the organization as a whole, but individual benefits and competitive advantages
for each team or function. With BIM, almost every team should have a role to
play and will reap their own efficiency and competitive advantages. By
identifying benefits for the organization and for each team, implementing BIM
takes immediate shape and direction.

Communication is paramount. Communicating both
the overall goals and benefits of BIM, and specific team-based goals,
throughout every level of an organization is an essential part of implementing
BIM.

Appoint “BIM Champions” while adopting BIM. Firms might want to consider appointing subsidiary BIM champions
for each team or function as well as an overall BIM champion to coordinate the
firm-wide implementation.

Planning is important. Addressing staff
skills and process redesign is another key step to implementing BIM. Success
relies on a clear vision of benefits and goals. Have a realistic strategy to
achieving them. While achieving Level 2 BIM is an ambitious, far-reaching goal,
the only way to get there is by one step at a time. So, the benefits and the
plan should reflect this step-by-step approach to achieving BIM.

Choose software tools and set organizational BIM data standards. Level 2 BIM does not require a shared data model, but it does
require BIM software for each relevant team, and the ability to share common
format files between teams to work collaboratively. Setting data standards
throughout an organization is a must, and implementing electronic collaboration
software is desirable. Upgrading networking infrastructure and data storage,
even moving applications to the cloud to allow for remote and off-site working,
are all potential options firms should consider if they haven’t already.

Finally, don’t go it alone. There is already a
wide range of experience in implementing BIM successfully, both in the UK and
abroad. This includes case studies and best practices by British and overseas universities
as well as by professional bodies and consultancies.

To learn more about how CommScope and Autodesk
Seek can facilitate your BIM requirements,
take a look at this short and insightful video.

For more information on BIM and how it
can impact the connected and efficient building, register to download the
ultimate guide here.

About the Author

Peter Marsh

Peter Marsh is responsible for promoting the CommScope product ranges and services to our End User, Consultant and Partners throughout the UK. Working with specialists from our expanding portfolio, Peter ensures that we best represent what we're able to offer and support directly or through our valued Partner network. Particular focus includes the Intelligent Building and Data Centre arenas where performance, innovation, reliability and flexibility are vital.